98 and ME differences

[artsapimp]

I work in a tech support oriented call center where we support all versions of Windows EXCEPT Windows ME. A lot of our customers are getting errors that we've never heard of and eventually admit they are running ME instead of 98. Is there anything we can ask the customer that would prove they are running ME? Something that ME can't do that 98 can, except boot into DOS.

Thanks

[lil Jimmie]

Well its been three weeks since I've seen win98 so this is a good one I don't miss anything that's for sure. I have't found anything that Me can't do except boot to dos. I only have found that some third party software like BC Wipe don't run well and surfgaurd shows errors when it boots up.
Wiping programs will wipe out any restoration point that ME or the user has saved.
If you ask them to go to the start menu\settings\taskbar &start menu and then to uncheck or check the use personalized menu,and they have this option then they are using Me but that might not catch them. I no that ME software has programs built inside that 98 doesn't Such as the DVD software C:\windows\dvdplay and it will install on a pc that doesn't have a dvd drive on it.
Also ME has the taskbar settings inside the control panel that 98 didn't if I remember right. As far as the win 98
software being able to do something that ME can't I really haven't seen it! I will keep it in mind and If something come up I'll post back Good Luck!

[Edited by lil Jimmie on 10-03-2000 at 08:54 PM]

[HAL9000]

I'm trying to remember if the command is right. Start > run > SFC for "system file checker". If that's right... doesn't work on my ME.

[lil Jimmie]

Hal, It works on my ME. But mine is an upgrade not a clean install.

[HAL9000]

Might be a hit and miss thing then. I upgraded both my machines by using the full CD, but deleting WIN.COM to do the upgrade and SFC is no longer on either system.

[glc]

I haven't seen ME yet, but seems to me this will nail them dead to rights - Start, Settings, Control Panel, System - on the General tab (?) the exact version and build of Windows is there - 95 will be 950 (a, b, or c), 98 FE is 1998 and 98 SE is 2222.

[eltano1]

Glc, yes, if you do that it will show WIN ME.Also running msconfig will show the sistem config system with 8 tabs, including one with the "static VxDs", "Enviromemts" and "International" tabs.
I love it, no a crash (knoking wood) since installed (2 months).

[artsapimp]

Thank you for the replies. I will try a few of these ideas and see what the outcome is. I doubt the general tab thing is going to work. If the customer says he has 98 and I ask him to read the type of OS he has he's probably going to be smart enough to not say ME. I will try the SFC thing though.

Thanks again for the help.